Combination garment



Jan. 17, 1928.

"6. L. NICKERSON COMB INATI ON GARMENT INVENTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1ml! 5 lt ATTORNEY Filed Aug. 31, 1.926

Jan. 17, 1928.

G. L. NICKERSON COMBINATION GARMENT Filed Aug. 51, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED ST T PATENT OFFICE.

GERTRUDE L. NICKERSON, OF BRIDGEPO RT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WARNER BROTHERS COMPANY, INC. OF BRIDQE'PORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF connnc'rrcu'r.

COMBINATION GARMENT.

v Application filed August 31, 1926. Serial No. 132,731.

Anot er object of the invention is to so combine the two garment members thateach will effectively perform its functions without interference with the functioning of the other.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises a garment including a corset member having elastic sections in the side portions and refer-ably also in the lower portion of t e forward part. The 5 upper portion of the garment takes the form of a brassiere formed as an integral extension of the front and the back portions of the corset member.

A feature of the invention resides in the :0 relation of the side portions of the brassiere member to the corset member. The side portions of the brassiere member terminate at their lower extremities in loose edges, that is, the lower extremities of the slde portions of the brassiere member are not attached to the adjacent upper extremities of the side portions of the corset member; The upper extremities of the side portions of the corset or girdle member terminate in bands of elastic material which function to provide sufiioient pressure in the region of I the diaphragm to control protruding flesh. The disconnection, referred to, between the side portions of the, corset and-the side portions of the brassiere permits the application by the corset or girdle member of the desired pressure without causing pressure to be exerted also by the brassiere. Preferably the lower and relatively loosely formed edges. of the side portions of the brassiere are arranged in an underlying position with relation to the upper extremities of the side portions of the girdle member, the looseness of the brasslere portions '55 permitting the elastic upper edges of the girdle to stretch as needed to produce the desired pressure on the diaphragm region. Preferably-the elastic members or bands are arranged in a slightly inclined position to thereby exert their action in the form of a slightly upward pull or lift.

Other features of the invention will be hereinafter referred to.

In the drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention has been selected for illustration:

Figure 1 is an outside elevation View of a garment embodying the invention t Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing an inside view of the garment;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of the invention;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing an inside view of the modified form of the invention. Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, a garment is shown which comprises a comblnation of a corset or girdle unit 5 and a brassiere unit 6 permanently joined together in the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 to form r a unitary article of wear. In Figures 1 and 2 the back section 7 of the corset portion is stitched at its upper terminal edge 8 to the lower edge of the corresponding section 9 of the brassiere. A similar construction is provided for the forward section 10 of the corset .unit and the forward section 11 of the brassiere unit, the adjacent edges of which are joined together by the line of stitching 12. The side sections 13 of the corset unit have inserted therein sections 14 formed of elastic fabric and an, elastic section is also inserted at 15 in the forward front section 10 of the corset unit.

A feature of the invention resides in the relation of the side sections of the two garment units'to each other. This feature of the invention includes the provision of a loose lower edge 'portion 16 formed on the side sections-17 of the brassiere unit which are unattached to the upper extremities of the side sections 13 of the corset unit. The lower edges 16 of the brassiere section 17 occupy an underlying position with relation to the upper edges of the corset sections 13 which terminate'inelastic bands 18 having a position such that the forward ends of the band sections 18 occupy a somewhat lower position in use than the position of Q tuberance.

Preferably the lower extremity 16 of the brassire section 17 is relatively full or loose in order to provide for a limited stretching of the upper terminal portions 18 of the corset sections 13, such as takes place in actual use. 7

It .will be seen that the disconnection between the corset unit and the brassire unit provided in the side sections thereof permits the functioning of each garment without interference by the other. In other words, the upperextremity of the corset unit provides the desired pressure or controlling action unimpeded by a restricting action which would be produced by a complete connection to the brassiere unit throughout its upper terminal edge. On the other hand, the functiomng of the brassiere unit is unrestricted by its connection with the corset unit by reason of the disconnection provided at the terminal portions of the side sections. The result is that the brassiere unit obtains at all times a smooth fit without exerting the pressure that is applied by the corset unit.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, the back portion 19 of the corset unit and the back portion 20 of the brassiere unit are formed as a single piece without the line of stitching characteristic ofthe form of the invention shown in Figure 1. The forward section 21 of the corset unit and the forward section 22 of the brassiere unit are, however, formed substantially as in Fi ures 1 and 2.

In this form of t e invention, the side sections of the corset unit 23 and the side sections 24 of the brassire unit each terminate in elastic band portions 25 and 26. The elastic band portions 25 of the side sections 23 of-the corset unit are similar in all re-' spects to the elastic band sections 18 of the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2. However, the elastic band sections 26 which form the lower terminal edges of the side sections 24 of the brassiere unit form a feature of the invention which is not shown in Figures 1 and 2.' The elastic band sections 26 he within the terminal band section 25 of the corset unit and are arranged at an inclination such that the forward portions thereof are at a higher level than the back portions thereof in use. This arrangement and dis os'ition-of the lower terminal section 26 of the side portions 24 of the bra$iere unit provides a useful compressing or restricting action in a desired direction.

It will be seen that the combination garment described is so'constructed as to combine in one garment the useful features of two garments and without interference of either unit with the functioning of the other; The brassiere unit functions in its own way to provide the necessary expansion accompanying breathing while at the same time the adjacent upper portionof the corset unit exercises the desired pressure in the region of the diaphragm. The disconnection between the two garment units between the side sections thereof-provides for the form controlling functions of the upper portion of the corset unit in the region of the waistline without. interfering with a desirable smooth fit of the brassiere portion.

The introduction of elastic material in the waistline zone of the improved garment provides for the expansion and contraction at the diaphragm which is necessary for easy and comfortable breathing. This strucw can lean or bend sideways without anaccompanying wrinkling or. bunching of the garment at the side toward which the body is bent, since the disconnected adjacent edges of the side sections are free to slide with relation to each other. At the same time the disconnected condition of the upper edge of the side section of the corset unit ,and the lower edge of the brassiere unit at the other side of the wearer permits upward stretching or leaning without corresponding stretching and pulling of the material in the garment.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any mechanical equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions thereof but recognize that various structural modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What I claim is:'

1. In a combination garment, a corset unit and a brassiere unit having the upper extremities ofthe front and rear sectlons of the corset unit attached to the lower extremities of the front and rear sections of the brassiere unit, the side sections of the two units being unattached to'each other, the main body portion of the side sections of the corset unit being formed of nonelastic material and the upper edges of the sections being formed of elastic material, and located outside of" in overlapping relation to the lower edges of the. side sections of the brassiere unit.

2. In a combination garment, a corset'unit and a brassiere unit having the upper extremities of the front and rear sections of the corset unit attached to the lower extremities of the front and rear sections of the brassiere unit, the side sections of the 'two units being unattached to. each other,

the main body portion of the side sections being formed of non-elastic material and the upper extremitiesof the side sections of the corset unit being formed of bands of elastic material arranged to overlie the lower extremities of the side sections of the bras siere unit, said bands of elastic material being arranged to occupy an inclination such as to produce an upward and rearward pull in the front section of the corset unit.

3. In a combination garment, a corset unit and a brassiere unit having the upper extremities of the front and rear sections of the corset integrally attached to the lower extremities of the front and rear sections of thebrassiere unit, the side sections of the two units being unattached to each other and arranged in overlapping relation at their adjacent extremities, the lower extremities of the side sections of the brassiere unit being loosely formed the main body portion of the side sections being formed of nonelastic material, and the upper extremities of the side sections of the corset unit bein formed of bands of elastic material arrange to overlie the lower extremities of the side sections of the brassiere unit, said bands of elastic material being downwardly mchned tremities of the front and rear sections of the brassiere unit, the side sections of the two units being unattached to each other and arranged in overlapping relation at their adjacent extremities, the lower extremities of the side sections of the brassiere unit being formed of bands of elastic material inclined upwardly at their forward ends, and the upper extremities of the side sections of the corset unit bein formed of bands of elastic material inc ined downwardly at their forward ends.

5. In a combination garment, a corset unit and a brassiere unit having the upper extremities of the front and rear sectlons of the corset unit attached to the lower extremities of the front and rear sections of the brassiere unit, the side sections of the two units being unattached to each other, the main body portion of the side sections of the brassiere unit being of'non-elastic material and the lower extremities thereof being formed of bands of elastic material arranged to underlie the upper extremities of the side sections of the corset unit, said bands of elastic material being upwardly inclined toward their forward ends.

GERTRIIDE L. NICKERSON. 

